Jackie Venson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jackie Venson
Background information
Born	1990 Austin, Texas, United States
Genres	Blues, soul, pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Instruments	Vocals Guitar Piano
Years active	2013-present

Jackie Venson (born in 1990) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She is from Austin, Texas. Jackie finished her studies at Berklee College of Music in 2011.

She has released five studio albums, including Joy (2019) and Love Transcends (2021). Her latest studio albums are Evolution of Joy (2023) and Ghost in the Machine (2023). Jackie has also released six live albums. These include Live at Strange Brew (2016) and Live in Texas (2020). She also has a DJ project called jackie the robot.

Early Life and Musical Start

Jackie Venson was born in Austin, Texas. She grew up as the youngest of nine children. Her father, Andrew Venson, was a professional musician for 40 years. Jackie's mother, Dr. Diane Brinkman, encouraged her to start playing piano at age eight.

Jackie found it hard to practice piano at first. She said it took her years to focus and play well. Her father was a big inspiration for her. He showed her that a career in music was possible.

Jackie went to Westwood High School (Austin, Texas). She then studied at the Berklee College of Music. She focused on composition and studio production there. Jackie found Berklee very challenging. She felt depressed and did not play much music during that time.

In her last year at Berklee, Jackie saw a schoolmate playing guitar. He looked like he was having a lot of fun. This inspired Jackie to try guitar herself. She started learning the instrument in 2011. Her piano skills and music theory knowledge helped her learn guitar quickly.

Jackie Venson's Music Career

In April 2014, Jackie Venson won a music competition. This allowed her to perform on the Belk Summer Tour. She opened for famous country artists like Jason Aldean and Tim McGraw. She also performed at the Austin Urban Music Festival. On May 21, 2014, Austin City Hall declared it "Jackie Venson Day." They held a concert to raise money for a music school in her honor.

Jackie released her first studio album, The Light In Me, in 2014. In 2016, she released an EP called Jackie Venson Live. She also released the live album Live at Strange Brew. Her EP Transcends came out in September 2017. In April 2019, Jackie released her album Joy. This album was very popular and her release show in Austin sold out.

During the 2020 pandemic, Jackie's tours were canceled. She decided to focus on creating music and performing online. She streamed live shows often on different platforms. She released five albums that year. These included two live albums, two volumes of her jackie the robot remixes, and a studio album called Vintage Machine.

Her hard work led to her national television debut. On November 14, 2020, Jackie Venson appeared on the TV show Austin City Limits. Her frequent live streaming also made her one of Pollstar's Top Music Live Streamers of 2020. She was listed among well-known artists like Norah Jones. In summer 2021, Jackie joined Melissa Etheridge on her musical cruise. She performed with other musicians like Celisse Henderson.

In April 2023, Jackie Venson performed at the CMTA Awards in Austin, Texas. She played guitar with Alanis Morissette and later with Lainey Wilson. In January 2023, Jackie started her yearly performances at Antone's Night Club in Austin. She sold out every Saturday show that month.

Musical Style and Influences

Jackie Venson usually performs with a three-piece band. Sometimes she plays solo or with a larger six-piece band. In her live shows, she uses a special DJ sampler. This helps her create a rich, layered sound.

Critics have praised Jackie's talent. The Austin American-Statesman called her a "Gary Clark Jr.-level talent." They noted how she speaks through her guitar and has a beautiful, smoky voice. Guitar World mentioned the influence of blues and soul music in her singing. Parade described her as a soul/pop guitarist and singer.

The Austin Chronicle admired her honest voice and lyrics. The Chicago Sun-Times said Jackie brings "formidable instrumental chops." They also noted her positive musical message and warm singing voice.

Jackie Venson is influenced by artists like Buddy Guy, Sade, and Alicia Keys. Her voice has been compared to Joss Stone and Amy Winehouse.

Awards and Recognition

Discography

Studio Albums

• Joy (2019)
• Love Transcends (2021)
• Evolution of Joy (2023)
• Ghost in the Machine (2023)
• The Love Anthology (2025)

Live Albums

• Live at Strange Brew (2016)
• Live in Texas (2020)
• Jackie Venson Live at Austin City Limits (2020)
• Joy Alive (2021)
• Love Transcends Live in Austin (2022)
• Ghost Live (2024)